R.I. police say body may be missing ex-Brown student

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Sunil Tripathi was last seen in his apartment in Providence on March 16.

Police in Providence pulled a man’s body from the ­Providence River Tuesday, and authorities said it is “very possible” it is that of Sunil ­Tripathi, 22, a former Brown University student who has been missing since mid-March.

Providence police Lieutenant Joseph Donnelly said Tuesday night that “it’s very, very possible” that the body could be Tripathi’s, but added authorities will not know for sure until the medical examiner’s office in Providence identifies the body Wednesday morning. Donnelly said Tripathi’s family has not been notified of the body’s ­recovery.

Donnelly said the body was found in the river behind the Wyndham Garden Providence Hotel
around 6 p.m. The coach of Brown’s rowing team, which practices in that area, saw the body floating in the water and called police, Donnelly said.

Tripathi was last seen in his apartment on Angell Street in Providence around 11 a.m. on March 16. An initial sweep of his room found his cellphone, credit card, ID, and other personal items, but his sister said his glasses and Philadelphia ­Eagles wool cap were gone.

The FBI has been assisting Providence police in the investigation, said a spokesman for the Boston division last month.